Practice ammunition and training system using the practice ammunition

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to programmable practice ammunition. For this purpose, a projectile head of a practice projectile of the practice ammunition has at least one electronic system in the form of an electronic fuze replacement system and a signal transmitter. Optionally, an explosive charge can be introduced into the projectile head. The explosive charge is preferably a pyrotechnic. A light signal, an infrared signal, a radio signal, or another suitable electronic or optical signal, even a color signal, can be output and transmitted via the signal transmitter. Optionally, the explosive charge can be triggered and deployed via the signal transmitter. The projectile is provided with radial openings for this purpose. The invention additionally relates to a training system for a realistic practice using an explosive representation at the target or in the target area.

FIELD

The invention relates to the programmability of a testing and practice ammunition or a testing and practice cartridge and to a training system that uses a programmable practice ammunition of this type.

BACKGROUND

The training and practice of a tank crew should take place as realistically as possible. The associated costs and damage on the shooting ranges or practice areas, however, should be as low as possible. For introduced programmable explosive ammunition, there is currently no practice ammunition that adequately meets both requirements. This leads to high costs, since combat ammunition is also used for training purposes. This is accompanied by possible damage to the infrastructure of the shooting ranges and the practice areas.

Another problem with the use of combat ammunition is the occurrence of possible duds. When combat ammunition is used, dangerous duds can occur, despite the functional reliability achieved, which significantly disrupt training operations. In particular, these can represent a source of danger until they are destroyed.

DE 10 2011 107 960 B3 discloses ammunition, in particular practice ammunition which can be fired from handguns, which comprises a projectile body having a projectile shell. The projectile body contains a charge that can preferably explode in the air. In order to ensure that the marking of an air blast point or, if desired, an impact point of the projectile body to make clearly visible in the target over a longer period of time, it is proposed to use a marker to mark the air explosion point or the impact point. For this purpose, the projectile shell comprises a centrally arranged cylindrical block with a cargo space containing a charge. The cylindrical block has at least one pressure relief bore extending radially from the charge space to the outer circumference of the cylindrical block. The outer circumference of the cylindrical container is surrounded by an annular container with the marker. Before or when firing the practice ammunition, a time fuze arranged on the base of the ammunition is programmed in such a way that the charge is already ignited before the projectile body hits a target. After igniting the charge, the active gas pressure dismantles the container with the marker and the projectile shell. The marker is deployed from the projectile body. In addition, a bang and/or flash can be produced when the air blast point is reached.

SUMMARY

The object of the invention is to provide a practice ammunition or a practice projectile, in particular in the large-caliber range, with which a training and practice operation, in particular for a tank crew, can take place as realistically as possible.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Claim 10 reproduces a training system. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of creating an inexpensive practice ammunition that can transmit a signal to the target which is used to signal to a crew of a weapon system how good or bad the operation of the weapon system was, i.e. whether the shot would have been good and precise.

For this purpose, the practice ammunition has an electronic system that is integrated in the practice projectile and preferably has all the fuze functions of live combat ammunition. This has the advantage that the operation of the weapon system by a tank crew can proceed in the same way as with live combat ammunition, for example in the case of HE combat ammunition.

After firing the practice ammunition, as is the case with an actual fuze system, an impact of the practice projectile on the target is detected. This can be a ground impact or an impact on a target. This can be followed by transmitting a signal to a stationary receiver or to a receiver that can be moved with the target in the target area or at the target. This can be, for example, a light signal, an infrared signal, a radio signal, or another suitable electronic or optical signal, and even a color signal. This signal can produce a signature or an explosive representation of the combat success for the crew. As an alternative or in addition, for example, the target or shooting targets on the shooting range or the practice area can be completely or partially folded over as an explosive representation.

When an air blast point for the practice ammunition is selected at a predetermined or programmable target distance, the electronic system in the practice projectile produces a signal for at least one receiver located at the predetermined (programmed) blast point. At least one receiver recognizes the correct or incorrect position of the practice projectile at the specified (programmed) “air blast point” based on the correct or deviating position of the transmitted signal from the location or position of the practice projectile that is flying by and is transmitting a signal. The at least one receiver itself can be stationary and/or movable. The at least one receiver is preferably located on the ground.

The signal transmitted by the practice projectile can also be used to represent an explosion or explosive representation that is visible for the operation of the weapon system at the blast point. This explosion can be triggered by the at least one receiver.

In a further development of the invention, when the weapon system is operated correctly, a corresponding explosive representation can be triggered in the target, which can be perceived as the target or explosion site by the crew. In particular, the correct position of the practice projectile in the air blast point triggers a corresponding explosive representation for the tank crew, which is perceived by the crew as “target attacked.” The real representation of a blast can be realized with a suitable pyrotechnic.

If the target is not effectively attacked due to incorrect operation of the weapon system, an explosive representation can be dispensed with. The absence of an explosive representation then signals to the crew that the operation was incorrect. Alternatively, however, a blast representation can also be carried out in the target area with, for example, a deviating color. Based on the color differences between blasts with the correct or incorrect position, the crew recognizes whether the target was attacked or whether there was a missed shot.

If an explosive representation recognizable for the crew at the blast point is adopted by the practice projectile, the at least one receiver and a stationary explosive representation can also be dispensed with in order to simplify the firing setup.

A practice ammunition is therefore proposed, comprising at least one practice projectile with a projectile head and a drive. The practice projectile can be programmed. For this purpose, at least one electronic system in the form of an electronic fuze replacement system and a signal transmitter is installed in the projectile head. Optionally, an explosive representation can also be introduced in the projectile head. The explosive representation is preferably a pyrotechnic.

A light signal, an infrared signal, a radio signal, or another suitable electronic or optical signal, even a color signal, can be transmitted as a signature representation via a signal transmitter. The explosive representation can optionally also be initiated and deployed via the signal transmitter.

The projectile itself should be provided with radial openings to allow for the deployment of the signature and, if necessary, of the explosive representation.

The electronic fuze replacement system preferably has all the functions of the electronic system of a selectable or selected fuse variant of another combat cartridge. The drive also has at least one interface that is required for data transmission from a weapon system. In the drive, there is also a data transmission to the electronic fuze replacement system in the projectile head.

The implementation of the invention is thus a programmable practice ammunition with an active representation of the explosion in the target or target area.

The programmable practice ammunition itself comprises only very small amounts of explosives. However, it can preferably also do without explosives.

The advantage of this programmable practice cartridge is that the projectile does not contain explosives, which avoids duds. Unused pyrotechnics of the training system can be dismantled after shooting and do not represent a hazard. The programmable practice ammunition creates realistic practice with an explosive representation on the target or in the target area. Damage to the shooting ranges or practice areas is largely ruled out and duds are avoided. In addition, the costs of programmable practice ammunition are lower.

Furthermore, a training system is proposed for realistic practice with an explosive representation of the practice ammunition or the practice projectile at the target or in the target area. The training system comprises at least one weapon system comprising at least one weapon barrel for firing the practice ammunition. The training system also has at least one receiver for receiving the signal from the signal transmitter of the projectile of the practice ammunition. An explosive charge representation can be deployed in the target area and/or at the target. The explosive representation in the target area or at the target is in turn dependent on the operation of the weapon system, correct or incorrect, can be represented. The at least one interface of the drive is used for data transmission between the weapon system and the cartridge base.

The practice ammunition can also be used as test ammunition for the development of fuzes for live ammunition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in more detail in the drawings on the basis of one embodiment. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sketch-like representation of a practice cartridge according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a representation of a projectile of the practice cartridge from FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sketch-like explosive representation in the target,

FIG. 4 is a further sketch-like explosive representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a practice ammunition or practice cartridge 1, which is programmable. The programmable practice cartridge 1 consists of at least one projectile 11 and a drive 2. The drive 2 consists of a cartridge base 3 and a cartridge shell 8. A propellant charge in the cartridge shell 8 is not shown in greater detail.

The practice projectile 11 comprises at least one projectile head 4 which is equipped with an electronic fuze replacement system 5 and a signal transmitter 6. Optionally, an explosive charge 7 can also be integrated in the projectile head 4 for the explosive representation. The explosive charge 7 can be a pyrotechnic. Pyrotechnic charges of this type often explode in the visible, infrared and/or millimeter wave range.

FIG. 2 shows the practice projectile 11 after it has been fired from a weapon barrel 10′ of a weapon system 10 (FIG. 3). The practice projectile 11 is provided with radial bores (openings) 15 in order to allow for the deployment of a signature by means of suitable electronic or optical signals and, if necessary, of the explosive charge 7 for the explosive representation. The practice projectile 11 shows swing-out or fold-out fins 11.1. However, the application is not limited to this type of projectile. Alternative practice projectiles are also conceivable.

The drive 2 of the programmable practice ammunition 1 has at least one interface (not shown in more detail). The interface is used for data transmission (programming) between at least one weapon barrel 10′ of the weapon apparatus or weapon system 10 and the cartridge base 3 of the practice ammunition 1. In the drive 2, the data transmission to the electronic fuze replacement system 5 takes place in the projectile head 4. The electronic fuze replacement system 5 preferably has all the functions of an electronic system of a selectable or selected fuze variant of another combat cartridge.

In the weapon system 10 (FIG. 3), the programming of the practice ammunition 1 takes place in accordance with a target selection. The practice ammunition 1 is then ignited and the practice projectile 11 leaves the weapon barrel 10′ of the weapon system 10.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a training system 100 or 100′ for training or a practice operation of a tank crew with at least one weapon system 10.

When the selected and programmed “blast point” 20 (FIG. 3) is reached, the electronic fuze replacement system 5 sends a trigger signal to the signal transmitter 6. The trigger signal is programmed accordingly. The signal transmitter 6 optionally triggers the explosive charge 7 on the trajectory for the explosive representation on the trajectory and/or sends a signal to a stationary and/or movable receiver 13 on the ground. This can be a light signal, an infrared signal, a radio signal, or another suitable electronic or optical signal. Even a color signal is conceivable. The at least one receiver 13 can use this signal to trigger a corresponding signature representation, explosion simulation, or explosive representation 14 on the ground.

During the explosive representation by the practice projectile 11 on the trajectory, the position of the “blast point” in the target area 20 can be seen by the crew.

In the event of a target impact 12 according to FIG. 4, the signal transmitter 6 of the practice projectile 11 sends a signal to the one stationary and/or movable receiver 13 on the ground. The target impact 12 can be a ground impact or an impact on a target 12. The at least one receiver 13 can trigger a corresponding signature representation, explosive simulation, or explosive representation 14 on the ground.

If an explosive charge 7 has been introduced into the projectile head 4, the signal transmitter 6 can optionally trigger a signature or explosive representation on the target 12 via the practice projectile 11. In the case of an explosive representation by the practice projectile 11 on or in the target 12, an explosive representation 14 and the at least one receiver 13 on the ground can be dispensed with.

Using an explosive representation 14 on the ground or in the air, the crew can assess the explosion in the target area 20 or on the target 12, even over a long distance. The different or diverse explosive representations signal a success or a miss to the crew. 

1.-14. (canceled)
 15. A practice ammunition, comprising at least one practice projectile with a projectile head and a drive, characterized by a programmability, the projectile head having at least one electronic system and a signal transmitter, and, if necessary, an explosive charge being able to be introduced into the projectile head.
 16. The practice ammunition according to claim 1, wherein the electronic system is designed as an electronic fuze replacement system.
 17. The practice ammunition according to claim 15, wherein the explosive charge is a pyrotechnic.
 18. The practice ammunition according to claim 15, wherein a light signal, an infrared signal, a radio signal, or another suitable electronic or optical signal, even a color signal, can be output and transmitted via a signal transmitter.
 19. The practice ammunition according to claim 15, wherein the practice projectile can be provided with radial openings.
 20. The practice ammunition according to claim 15, wherein the electronic fuze replacement system has all the functions of an electronic system of a selectable or selected fuze variant of another combat cartridge.
 21. The practice ammunition according to claim 15, wherein the drive has at least one interface.
 22. The practice ammunition according to claim 21, wherein the interface is integrated on the cartridge base.
 23. The practice ammunition according to claim 15, wherein there is data transmission in the drive to the electronic fuze replacement system in the projectile head.
 24. A training system with at least one weapon system comprising at least one weapon barrel for firing practice ammunition according to claim
 15. 25. The training system according to claim 24, wherein at least one receiver for receiving the signal from the signal transmitter of the practice projectile.
 26. The training system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one receiver is stationary or movable.
 27. The training system according to claim 24, wherein an explosive charge representation can be represented in the target area and/or in the target.
 28. The training system according to claim 27, wherein the explosive representation can be represented depending on the operation of the weapon system. 